Abstract:

This paper examines a recent and very specific development in the field of corporate governance. The regulation of "corporate social responsibility," that is corporate compliance with society's expectations in regard to issues like working conditions and environmental impact has shifted from government agencies to civil society organizations, more specifically NGOs or Non Governmental Organizations. This means that standards are more often negotiated and the subject of voluntary agreements. Since corporations enter into these agreements on a voluntary basis, the enforcement of these arrangements must be at least partially carried out through internal corporate mechanisms. We examine these issues using the example of the banana industry.